While I can't guarantee your safety
or success, I can help reduce your losses no mater what your
political stance or future holds in store. While we may not
agree politically, I assure you we're on the same side when
it come to defending our mutual right to fight for our
respective cause no matter how diverse our opinions might be.

As the RMLC approaches the end of
our first decade developing RM tools for the private sector,
I find it ironic that if we're to effectively manage risk
created when we step into the political arena we'd better
have at least a basic
understanding of how to manage our homeland security,
natural disaster, pandemic, environmental health, and
liability risks not to mention our basic property and
casualty risks. Why? Because many of your political
decisions will ultimately impact the safety and security of
your community.

Following are highlights and
recommendations developed during the protests in Wisconsin
between November 2010 and my birthday April 21, 2011. As a
registered Republican who campaigned hard for Governor Walker,
I found myself frequently in the cross hairs of my fellow
union members and it turned out hired thugs bused in from
out of state to intimidate anyone who even remotely
disagreed with their ideology. Much of the hostility and
violence during the protests and Tea Party rally can be
found in the "deep throat" section of our RM library along
with links to death threats and acts of fraud and
dishonesty.

Midterm Election Risks: If
you came here to learn for whom to vote on April 5, you're
at the wrong site. If your here to learn how to make it
safely from your couch to the polls and back, I can
help. (1) Make up your mind before you leave home based on
your facts not on your fears. (2) Grab a handful of aspirins in case your
heart gives out and head for the polls. (3) When you
arrive at the polls give a high-sign to all in the parking
lot and smile at everyone standing in line to vote. That'll
convince them you're on their side. (4) As you pull
the curtain, snort a little, gasp once or twice, and laugh.
That'll confuse anyone within
ear-shot. (5) Vote for the candidates you feel will act in
your best interest. (6) Exit the booth with a smile, the building with a
grin, and the parking lot with a blast of your horn. Go home
and celebrate, you
just experienced the freedom to choose your own destiny.

My goal is not to tell you for whom to
vote. My mission is to give you the confidence to think for
yourself and the courage to exercise your constitutional
right to vote without intimidation. At the end of the day,
remember, we're a "Home Rule" nation which means it is your
right and duty to rule your home as you see fit. That means
carrying concealed if you want, putting Christ into
Christmas if you choose, and sending your kids to schools
more focused on teaching your family values than how to
place condoms on cucumbers. It's your call, it's your duty,
and it's your right! Our country is heading for an economic
crisis. Thank God for those who are trying to slow it down.

Risk Alert April 2, 2011:

Unions in
Wisconsin have sent letters to businesses threatening them
if they don't post signs in their windows supporting
protestors. Their threats have become increasing more
violent. (learn more)!
A
Wisconsin women has been arrested and charged for making
death threats to state senator. (learn more)!

As we approach
the midterm elections, union leaders are
organizing pickets and protests at select polling locations
on April 5. Their stated goal is to
discourage anyone from voting to re-elect
Judge Prosser! Their stated
candidate of choice has vowed to do what she can to stop
the budget bill (specifically school choice), vote against concealed carry, and
challenge voter ID legislation.
She's also refused to pull a false add even though it was
brought to her attention during a recent debate(learn more).
Add to these threats the 22 caliber shells
found on the Capitol Square during the Isthmus protests, the damage done
to State property, and the increasingly hostile recall
campaigns, and it's clear; voters need to
take additional RM precautions when going to the polls April 5.

I
offer following RM recommendations:
Whatever your political ideology, VOTE on April 5 for the
candidate of your choice.

Cast
an absentee ballot to avoid going to the polls on
Tuesday.

Go
to the polls with someone who can offer assistance if you
find yourself in harms way. While a body guard may not be needed, if you have a
medical condition such as being diabetic, travel with
someone who knows how to come to your aid if needed.

Don't
hang around the polls longer then necessary.
The second Risk Management control tool is to "reduce"
your risks. Shortening the time you spend in harms way
by taking the most direct routes to and from the polling
booth. Make sure your vehicle, walker, wheel chair, and
cane are in good working order. Make sure you can
identify the vehicle you came in and where you parked.
Park facing out of the lot and have an exit strategy to
include how to enter the vehicle, secure the doors, and
enter traffic from the lot. All reduce your exposure to
personal injury as well as the time it will take to
remove yourself and entourage from harms way.

Don't
huddle in groups while at the polls. Remember the #1
terrorist target characteristic is to achieve a high
body kill/injury ratio. The second is to have vulnerable
secondary targets. The third is to benefit from mass
media coverage. The fourth has to do with eliminating or
blocking vulnerable communication links. And, the fifth
has to do with being able to predict mass evacuation
routes.

Make
sure your cell phone is on, the battery is charged, and
you have your
ICE
number up to date.
Now is a good time to review you "single" ICS protocols
to include the first thing out of your mouth being "I
take command!" to monitoring the "Safety" considerations
at the polling station, making sure you know how to
operate your cell phone to include taking and sending
pictures to your home base and law enforcement, as well
as how to establish a "Liaison" should there be a need
to launch a "Unified" Command. Remember our concerns
over "discovery" should your phone become part of the
public record after the incident. Make sure you've
deleted all personal pictures before leaving for the
polls.

Wear
loose fitting clothing and running shoes. Your goal is to be
able to run and run fast. Don't wear high heels or ski
boots to the polling station. The purpose of loose
clothing is so you can cram books or barriers under your
shirt to stop a bullet or knife if attacked.

Know
for whom you're going to vote before entering the booth
to shorten your time in harms way.
Polling stations should have adequate signage as well as
pre-printed forms and instructions in English and
Spanish to speed the voting process. If in doubt, ask
for assistance sooner than later. Your goal is to get-in
and get-out as fast as possible.

Carry
medications you might need if the stress of the moment
triggers a medical condition.
The goal is to quickly be able to respond to a medical
emergency whether you're the one suffering a heart
attack or the guy in the booth next to you. Carry a
handful of aspirins and a candy bar for starters.
If you know how to operate a defibrillator be first to
the patient if possible. Don't wait for someone else to
act.

Let
a trusted adult know when you're going to the polls and
when you'll return.
Have an action plan if you fail to report home. The goal
is to specify the time between which you'll be in harms
way and have a trigger that's time certain you can pull
to summon assistance or support. Review protocols to
reduce the terrorists' window of opportunity.

If
you
feel threatened or observe either a suspicious object
or person, notify polling officials immediately. Review your VIPER protocols.

Note:If you
disagree with the protesters keep it to yourself while
at the polls. Challenging them will only put a target on
your back. If you signed a recall petition know that
your support of the recall could become a public
record. That may make you, your business,
and your family the oppositions target. Poll watchers
and election officials should conduct periodic
systematic sweeps of the building interior and
surrounding property following recommended VIPER
protocols.Remember
the protocols for conducting a bomb sweep. Before
leaving your office, do three 360 degree rotations.
First look for anything suspicious on the floor and
three feet up on all four walls. Second, look on all
four walls from three feet up to the ceiling for
disturbed light switches, and third look for loose
ceiling tiles and light fixtures. Finding nothing
suspicious, place something at the entrance to your
office to let the bomb squad know you've searched the
office and proceed out of the building watching for any
suspicious object or person.

Below:
I've posted additional RM steps to include a white paper
on steps you can take to safeguard yourself, your
family, your business, and your right to vote for the
candidates of your choice.

Unions in
Wisconsin have sent out letters threatening business who fail to
place signs in their windows supporting protestors. Threats in Wisconsin against
supporters Gov. Walker are escalating. A letter from union
leaders to local businesses threatens business owners and
their families if they don't post signs in their window
supporting protesters
(learn more). Note
the links to report abuse
(learn more) I'm leaving the door to our R&D on
executive protection and active shooter protocols open until
we launch our RM Grad school. Click on the (RMLC R&D files) for a log of thugs, threats, and
intimidations.
Any business owner who feels threatened should report their
concern to local law enforcement and the FBI. If in doubt go
through our partners at www.infragard.net.

April 6, 2011:Click
here for
county by county results of the elections in Wisconsin!
If election results are too close for comfort i.e. within
the margin requiring a recount, be suspicious
of the results no matter which candidate wins.
Based on the extreme efforts to sway voters during the
campaign, the death threats made to candidates, the
out-of-state money and personnel hired to influence the
election, and the passion of protesters, You'd be naive to think there won't be an effort to
miss count votes and/or fail to report those favoring the
opposition. I strongly recommend election officials be
properly vetted and be required to follow the same internal and audit controls recommended for those
in financial institutions who are entrusted with handling large amounts of currency or cash items.
For example, internal controls should include dual verification of
ballots and voting results, a process similar to cash letters
used to document ballots in transit, basic background checks
should be conducted on new volunteers
manning polling locations, and an in-depth background check
should be conducted on anyone suspected of manipulating ballots or failing to
accurately report results.When a significant breach of
trust is documented, a qualified financial audit of the
suspect should be conducted to explain major life
style changes and/or spending habits. The primary goal of
these recommended internal and audit controls is to
safeguard the reputation and integrity of those placed in
the public eye.
It wouldn't be the first time a vulnerable front-line employee
was
bribed to embezzle or miss appropriate items of value.
From a Risk
Management standpoint, we need to position those placed in
the public eye so when they're accused of doing wrong their honesty and integrity is beyond
suspicion.
Read RMLC fraud auditing white papers for more tips to keep
your reputation in tack.

RM tips for
voting safely in the midterm election April 5, 2011:
Historically, midterm elections have been uneventful
and down-right boring hangouts for poll watchers. This year,
however, while most will be their uneventful selves, a few
select sites will be the scene of angry protests, pickets,
and taxpayers frustrated by the fact their State is broke
and their life style might have to change. I'm not
at all concerned about our economic survival. I'm deeply concerned
about the escalating violence and threats made to our
legislators as we approach
April 5, 2011 not to mention the efforts to recall duly
elected officials. I'd be remiss if I didn't help voters identify
some of the risks they'll face at the polls and offer
RM tips for voting safely on election day. It's basic Risk
Management #101. Let's review the escalating violence. While
I use Wisconsin as an example, you can rest assured other
U.S. States, Great Britain, Ireland will not be far behind.

In Wisconsin the
scope of relatively small local protests quickly grew beyond
state lines as news agencies, bloggers, and Facebook friends
posted pictures and perspectives of not only the contents of
proposed legislation but how it was presented and passed.
It's a
safe bet much has been learned from Wisconsin's mistakes.
You can rest assured the "speculative" risks associated with
passing new legislation will be better managed in the
future.

Union leaders
have sent letters to businesses threatening "If you don't post signs
in support of protestors you'll suffer the consequences."
Threats from outside Wisconsin have been followed by
personnel bused in to support recall efforts across the
state. (learn more)

A
Wisconsin women has been charged for sending death threats to state senators.

The
first message sent March 9 to
Sen. Robert Cowles of Green Bay
said the sender and others had
decided to kill the Republican
senator by "arriving at your
house and putting a nice little
bullet in your head," the
complaint said. The email also
claimed the group had planted
bombs around the senator's house
and car and the Capitol
building. The charges carry a
combined maximum penalty of 7.5
years in prison. (learn more)

Union leaders
organized pickets and protests at select polling locations to
discourage voters from re-electing
Judge Prosser
to a second term. His opponent
vowed to oppose
the budget bill, school choice, concealed carry and voter ID legislation.
Her liberal stance angered conservatives especially those
favoring school choice and right-to-bear-arms. After
being accused of running false adds she refused to withdraw
the adds which angered both sexual assault victims and those
falsely accused (learn more)&(more).

Add the 22 caliber
shells found on the Capitol Square, the damage done to State
property, and the hostile recall campaigns manned by
personnel from out the State; and it's clear that voters will
need to take additional precautions when going to the polls
on election day.
No matter on which hook you hang your hat, be sure to
vote on April 5 for the candidates of your choice.

I offer the following
RM tips for voters going to the
polls on April 5.

Cast
an absentee ballot on Monday and avoid the polls on
Tuesday.

Go
to the polls with someone who can offer assistance if you
find yourself in harms way.

Don't
hang around the polls any longer then necessary.

Don't
huddle in groups while at the polls. Remember the #1
terrorist target characteristic.

Make
sure your cell phone is on, the battery is charged, and
you have your
ICE
number up to date.

Wear
loose fitting clothing and running shoes.

Maintain
"pushback" space and "bailout" routes.

Know
for whom you're going to vote before entering the booth
to shorten your time in harms way.

Carry
medications you might need if the stress of the moment
triggers a medical condition.

Let
a trusted adult know when you're going to the polls and
when you'll return. Have an action plan if you fail
to report home.

If
you
feel threatened or observe either a suspicious object
or person, notify polling officials immediately. Review your VIPER protocols.

Note:If you
disagree with the protesters keep it to yourself while
at the polls. Challenging them will only put a target on
your back. If you signed a recall petition know that
your support of the recall could become a public
record. That may make you, your business,
and your family the oppositions target. Poll watchers
and election officials should conduct periodic
systematic sweeps of the building interior and
surrounding property following recommended VIPER
protocols. (learn
more)

Below:
I've posted additional RM steps to include a white paper
on steps you can take to safeguard yourself, your
family, your business, and your right to vote for the
candidates of your choice.

Keep their heads up, eyes open, and
ears to the ground. Shelve our fear
of being politically not-correct and
get ready to act in the face of
danger. Review you five step action
plan when carrying concealed. I
salute the young man in Tucson who
helped save lives without drawing
his weapon. If only he'd been on
scene a minute earlier, the little
girl would not have died.

Rehearse their "Identify -
Measure - Control, and Avoid -Reduce
- Spread - Assume - Transfer" RM
strategies and now what to do if
they suspect a threat or are
confronted by an active shooter?

Join and
support law enforcement through
InfraGard at
www.InfraGard.org.
Call me if you need a reference.

Click
here
and review
the white paper I wrote to support
RMLC workshops on "Executive
Protection" and "Violence in the
Workplace." Ironically, this
paper was used to support the AZ
League workshops I did in Tucson and
Phoenix. WOCCU, CUNA Management
School, U.S. League, CMG, ABCUL and
JCUL Credit Union Risk Managers,
pull out your RM manuals and study
the sections on event and
contingency planning as well as
setting up defendable zones and
conducting a mass-evacuation.

Terrorists
will strike when we're most
vulnerable. Click here
to review protocols if your first to
the scene. Click here
to review protocols prior to a mass
evacuation, and click
here
to review important contingency
planning protocols.

Please share these with your elected
officials. There offered at no cost to
victims and law enforcement. If,
however, you're credit union wants to
reprint them, I request $20 with a note
indicating your intentions sent to me at
my office address (Rich Woldt, 1906
Barber Drive, Stoughton, WI. 53589.

Note:
I'll be in Arizona from January 17 -
25th. Call me on 608-712-7880. I'll be
in Aspen until then.

Don't rely on email or Facebook or
Linked in. I have over 5000 not read
email, I think someone stole my linked
In account, and I'm trying to find time
to learn how to better use Facebook.

Reviewing and updating
violence-in-the-workplace response
protocols, workstation bailout
routes, protocols for
locating-lockdown and linking key
employees and their family members
to "private sector" command centers,

Reviewing retreat
and extrication protocols for
executives during violent acts on
and off premises.

Reviewing, rehearsing, and
documenting credit union staff
and employee training. Make sure all
CU employees know and understand how
to reach, defend, and maintain calm
at defendable zones.

Asking event and
contingency planners to update all
CU event security protocols to
include conducting and documenting
pre-event site assessments.

Alerting all Credit Union
Risk Mangers and alternates to their
duty to ensure all credit union
executives and officials know what
to do and how to act before, during,
and after any traumatic event at
your credit union.

NOTE: All credit
unions should join the local security
association recommended by their credit
union league. A key element of being
properly trained and ready for the next
terrorist attack, natural disaster, or
pandemic is to be on the same page with
other credit unions in your CU Chapter,
CU League, CUNA Inc. and .... WOCCU
Go to....WOCCU
for more information.